Railroad rail gauging device



WH 9 J. T. FULBRIGHT RAILROAD RAL GAUGING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l WOHNM@ INVENTQR @TFM L L22 Z6 W ////////r/////(/////////////// Filed Nov.v 2o, 195s EWIE|EH www J. T. FULRIIGHT RAILROAD RAIL GAUGING DEVICE TILE@ .AMER 79 2 Sheets-Shawl 2 FNVENTOR `l x w Filed Nov. 20, 1955 Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in railroad rail gauging devices.

The principal object is to provide means whereby a rapid survey and record of a railroad line may be made to determine any spreading of the rails, the location of rail joints and the contour of the road bed.

A further object is to provide means which will accomplish these objects in a simple manner.

A still further obj ect is to produce a device which is simple in construction and one which will not be easily deranged in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic View showing my device positioned on a railroad car capable of being drawn over the rails of a railroad line,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the rail engaging portion of my device,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the raising and lowering apparatus,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation partly in cross section of the rail engaging apparatus and taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross sectional view of the variable resistance element and its mounting, and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 8--6 of Fig. 5.

At the present time all railroads employ inspectors, whose duty it is to periodically go over the entire section under their supervision an-d check the rails for any displacement which may have occurred in use. This is an expensive procedure and any record made of the inspection depends upon the inspector writing down data which he may secure. With my invention, apparatus is mounted upon a car which rapidly passes over the rail line and during its passage thereover the apparatus records on moving tapes or other suitable recording mechanism the exact condition of the rails as to spread, joints and grades.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 8 designate the ordinary rails of a railroad mounted upon the ties l. The numeral 8 designates the frame of a car in which is positioned recording apparatus 9, II and I2. It may be here stated that the recording mechanism in the apparatus 9, II and I2 may consist of a stylus operated similarly to the usual galvanometer needle. Extending through the car floor is a rod I3 having a handle I4. This rod is supported in a housing I6 having a bayonet slot I'I in which a pin I8 may travel. A spring I9 surrounds the rod I3 and 5 bears against the undersurface of the pin I8, the purpose of which will be later seen. Mounted upon the bottom of the rod I3 is a disc 2| to which are pivoted links 22 and 23. The link 22 connects to a forked arm 24 carried upon a bar 26 which 10 telescopes within a tubular member 21. This tubular member has a forked arm 28 similar to the forked arm 24. These forked arm 24 and 28 each have rollers 29 which are adapted t-o engage the crown of the rails 8 and at any convenient 15 point between the Wheels 3i of the car upon which the apparatus is mounted. Telescoping supports 32 tend to hold the rod 26 and telescoping portion 2l in proper alignment so that the rollers 23 will engage the rails 5 and 8. 20 A spring 33 positioned Within the telescopic member 2l tends to force the members 28 and 21 apart so as to hold the rollers 29 in end engagement with the rails. Mounted upon the rod 26 is an insulating member 34 and so positioned that 25 it lies within an opening 38 in the member 2l. This opening 36 is bridged by a bar 31 upon which is a movable contact 38. This contact engages a resistance unit 39 mounted upon the insulation 34. One end of this resistance unit is electrically 30 connected to the recorder II. The contact 38 is also connected to the recording mechanism II through any suitable source of electrical energy, such as the battery A. At 4I and 42 I have shown arms. which carry brushes 43 and 44, respective- 35 ly. These brushes are so positioned that they will engage the joint plates connecting two rail sections to each other. These brushes 43 and 44 are electrically connected to the recording mechanisms 3 and I2, respectively. 40

The manner of using my device is as follows- Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the moving of the train will cause a straight line record on the tape in the recording apparatus II. Should the rails spread 45 at any point, then the spring 33 will cause the forks 24 and 28 to move outwardly so as to hold the rollers 29 in contact with the rail heads and immediately this expansive effect will cause the r resistance element 39 to move under the contact 38 with the result that the recording mechanism will indicate this change. At the same time as the train is proceeding, the brushes 43 and 44 will contact each rail connecting plate and r will cause Wavers in the recording line each time o an impulse is given. When it is desired to lift the apparatus suspended beneath the car, the operator moves the lever I4 so as to withdraw the pin I8 from the horizontal portion of the bayonet slot I1, which act will rotate the disc 2l and exert a pull on the links 22 and 23, thus counteracting the effect of the spring 33, and at the same time as soon as the pin I8 reaches the vertical portion of the slot I1, the spring I9 will cause the apparatus as a whole to rise vertically in the telescoping guides 32.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a device which will accomplish all the objects above set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. In a testing apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting vehicle, a pair of telescoping members positioned beneath said vehicle, rail engaging members carried by said telescoping members, means for moving said rail engaging members against rails on which said vehicle travels, electrical means connected to said telescoping members for indicating variations in position between said telescoping members, electrical contact brushes carried by said telescoping members and adapted to engage the rail joining plates positioned on said rails.

2. In a device of the character described, adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a pair of telescoping members, each of said members having a forked arm secured thereto, rollers mounted in the free ends of said forked arms, a rod secured to said Vehicle and having a disc positioned upon its lower extremity, links pivoted to said discs and to each of said telescoping members, a spring interposed between said telescoping members, means for suspending said telescoping members beneath said vehicle, and electrical means for indicating any telescopic action between said telescopic members when said rollers are contacting the rails over which said vehicle is moving.

JAMES THOMPSON FULBRIGHT. 

